Ami jaccaed cuendet



(No Model.)

A. J. GUENDET. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 581,981. Patented May 4,1897.

M1 HI I UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

AMI JACOARD CUE'NDET, OF AUBERSON, SIVITZERLAND.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,981, dated May 4:, 1897. Application filed June 20, 1896. Serial No. 596,242. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AMI JACOARD CUENDET, a citizen of Switzerland, and a resident of Auberson, in the canton of Vaud and Republic of Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved action for mechanical musical instruments of the class in which a perforated music-sheet serves to actuate the sound-producing tongues.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved action, showing the spur-wheel in engagement with the slot of the music-sheet. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, with the spur-wheel out of such engagement; Fig. 3, a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a detail of hub c, and Fig. 5 a detail of wheel 0.

The letter a represents a slotted support, above which the perforated music-sheet b is fed in suitable manner. \Vithin each of the slots a of support a there is placed a spurwheel 0, which is adapted to be actuated by the music-sheet, so as to contact with and vibrate the soundproducing tongue (Z. The wheels 0 are of annular form and are revolubly mounted upon the circular hubs or cores 0, that fit within the central openings of the wheels. Each of the hubs e is provided with a vertical slot e,whieh is engaged by a squared horizontal shaft f, that is secured to the support a, so as to extend transversely across the several slots a thereof. Thus it will be seen that the hubs e are free to reciprocate or slide vertically, but are by the shaft prevented from revolving.

A spring g, secured at one end to the support a and engaging with its free end a notch e of the hub e, normally holds the hub,

and consequently the wheel 0, in its raised position.

The operation of the action will be readily understood. If a slot in the music-sheet arrives over the spur-wheel, the spring g will be free to force the hub, and consequently the wheel, upward, Fig. 1, so that the tooth e11- gages the edge of the slot and the wheel is partly rotated to vibrate the tongue (I. If a solid portion of the music-sheet arrives over the spur-wheel, the latter, together with its hub, is depressed against the action of the spring, Fig. 2, so that its tooth becomes disengaged from the slot.

It will be seen that my action is simple in construction and that its operation is positive and reliable.

hat I claim is 1. An action for mechanical musical instruments composed of a sliding hub and of a spur wheel revoluble upon said hub, substantially as specified.

2. An action for mechanical musical instruments composed of a slotted spring-actuated sliding hub, a squared shaft extending through the slot thereof, and a spur-wheel revoluble upon the hub, substantially as specified.

The combination of a slotted support with a squared shaft traversing the slots thereof, a slotted spring-actuated sliding hub, engaged by the shaft, a spur-wheel revoluble upon the hub, and a tongue adapted to be actuated by the spurqvheel, substantially as specified.

Signed at Auberson, in the canton of Vaud and Republic of Switzerland, this 29th day of April, A. D. 1896.

AMI JACOARD CUENDET.

"Witnesses:

E. SCHNEIDER, '1. KoENIeER. 

